Undergarment



Dec. 12, 1939.

W. c. PQwELL UNDERGARIENT Filed Sept. 24. 1938 Wfl/fw 1' a Pan/m j wfg-@50W ORNEYSK i views in section on lines corresponding to lines Patented Dec. 12, 1939 L INITED STATES- `PATENT oFFlcE UNDERGARMENT AWalter C. 'PowelL Muskegon, Milch., assigner to Amazon Mich.

Knitting Company, Muskegon,

Application september 24, 193s, serial No. 231,463

e claims. (omas-'459) 'This invention -relates to improvements in undergarments. l s

The main objects of my invention are:

First, to provide a novel mens,.undergarmentA of the trunk or short type. Y

Second, to provide an undergarment of the type described/having novel provisions for ren-- dering the same smoothly tting and free from chang;

Third, to provide an undergarment of the type described characterized by a mild supporting effect.

Further objects pertaining to details and veconomies of 'my invention will appeary from the description tofollow. The invention is dened in the claims. A garment which embodiesthe features of my invention is clearly illustrated-in .the accompanying drawing, Ain which:

Fig. 1 is a front view illustrating the undergarment offmy invention.

Fig. 2 and Fig. 3 are enlarged fragmentary '2-2 and 3-3 respectively of Fig. 1. i

The present invention relates to a mens undergarment of the trunk or short type. Such undergarments have come into extensive use but have heretofore been subject to objections'due to the fact that they are uncomfortably tight by reason of their'lackA of provision to accommodate .the body of the wearer other than* bystretching of the material. My inventionaims' to overcome this difilculty by providing an undergarment which, while form tting in nature and characterized by a mild 'supporting action, has

I and side portions 3, the last named portions terminating at upwardly-converging edges l in spaced Arelation ou' the front of the garment. are connected bythe fronti r ily e garment, generally indicated 5, hereinafter described. and the \\and einforcedby the tape 6 which is preferab formed of knitted tubing in tol " .of the garment; the same as the walls of the which' the wales longitudinally or vertically n body'fabric. Y

The rear portion 2 is brought'forwardly'andupwardly to provide a crotch portion which terminates ma forwardly and downwardly dis-l posed arcuate ilap or tongue 8 (see Fig. 3). The outermost edges of the crotch and side and rear portions are secured together and nished by Ia hem or tape 9, outlining a leg opening I0. A suitable elastic-.band Il is enclosed in the hem 9 fo'rmed by bindings ofknitted material to assure yielding though snug engagement with the legs of the wearer.

The front or y portion 5 of the undergarment is constituted by inner and outer panels I2, I3, which are each stitched .to the spaced edges I of the side portionsj, Awith the joint or seam covered by the 7finish materiali. The panels I2, I3 are provided with arcuate lower ends I4 simi-A lar to the arcuate end of tongue 8, and are stitched together and to the said tongue in the manner ill'ustratedin Figs. 1 and 3, with the arcuate ends in registry, thus providinga pouch I5 between tongue 8 and panel I2 which is distinct from Vthe crotch portion. J

The outermost front panel I3 is left free from the adjacent edge 4 and is cut back at- I6 to provide apartially opened fly closure at one ,side

of the front panels. 'I'he innermost panel 'I2 is similarly left free from the opposite edge 4 and cut back to provide a second ny closure staggered laterally ofthe iirst. 'I'he exposed edges of thepanels where they are cut back are hemmed or taped as indicated at I1 to iinish the same.

It will he, noted that the tapes i extend to and 30- are-connected to the leg bindings and that the seam I Q joining the parts 8 and I4 also extends to the binding joining the same near the lower =ends ofV the tapes.- The .garment is completedY by a suitable continuous web of elastic I8 secured 35 to-the upper edg'e thereof to engage the waist of the wearer. y f

- .The material of the .undergarment is' disposed with therlbs or wales thereof .running from top fto bottom whereby to render the garment readily Lstretchable laterally but relatively non-extensible longitudinally,- i. e., in the direction ,of the ribs or wales.

From the foregoingit will be seen that although `my undergarmenthas ample provision for conforming to the body of the'wearer and affording adequate IsupportA without undue stretching of the material and resultant tight gripping 'and chaiing, the otension set up vinpthe garmeht in use is just suicient tomaintain the 5g u ndergarment in snug, smooth, non-chalng relation to the body of the' wearer, pouch I5 providing the additional material requisite forthis purpose.V Furthermore, this tension is suiiicient to prevent bulging of the doubleily front constituted 55 by panels I2, I3 and the respective openings therein.-

'I'he double panel y front 5 serves to strengthen the resistance of the undergarment to lateral 5 stress, prevents undesired opening of the front, and preserves the smoothness of fit and appearance of the garment. It also contributes materially-to the amount of support aiorded thereby. I have illustrated and described. my .invention in an embodiment which I have found verysatisfactory. I have not attempted to illustrate or describe other adaptations which I contemplate as it is believed this disclosure will enable those skilled in\the art to embody my improvements as may be desired.

Having'v thus described my invention, what I claim a's new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. An undergarment for men comprising a body encircling portion having spaced edges at the pair of front panels secured at their sides to said suing an opening provided between each of said spaced edges and having arcuate ends secured to said tongue with the arcuate portions in register to provide a double walled front pouch adjacent t0 but distinct from the crotch portion, there bepanels and an adjacent edge of said body encircling portion, said openings being on opposite sides of the double panel frontY whereby to provide staggered double fly front openings for the garment, 4said crotch portion and body portion being secured together at the front of the garment to provide leg receiving openings.

2. An undergarment comprising a rear portion and side and crotch portions connected thereto and outlining therewith a pair of leg openings, said side portions terminating in spaced edges on the front of the garment, and a pair of front panels disposed between said edges and stitched to each thereof, said crotch portion having an larcuate tongue extending forwardly and downwardly and the panels having corresponding arcuate ends in registry with and stitched to said tongue.

3. An undergarment comprising a rear portion and side and crotch portions connected thereto and outlining therewith a pair of leg openings, said side portions terminating in spaced edges on the front of the garment, and a front panel disposed between said edges and stitched thereto,

said crotch portion having a tongue extending forwardly and downwardly and the panel having an extended end stitched to said tongue to provide a pouch of predetermined size connected to but distinct from said crotch portion.

WALTER C. POWELL. 

